DeNA, Disney to bring mobile social games worldwide

DeNA Co, Japan’s leading mobile social gaming platform operator, and The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd have announced that the companies have agreed to bring mobile social games to millions of players worldwide, through DeNA Group’s Mobage social gaming platform.

The two companies launched their first jointly developed social game, Disney Party, on March 28 on the Mobage network in Japan, which currently serves over 35 million in the country. DeNA and Disney plan to launch their second title, Disney Fantasy Quest, on Monday, and the third title based on Marvel Comics characters this summer in Japan.

Localized versions of Disney Party, Disney Fantasy Quest and the Marvel-based title are also scheduled to launch as smartphone apps after July on the Mobage networks outside Japan; Mobage Global for North America and Europe, Mobage China, and Daum Mobage for South Korea. The three titles will be DeNA’s first jointly developed titles to be released outside of Japan. DeNA and Disney are considering development of additional new titles for worldwide market in the future.

Under the agreement, the two companies plan to work together in areas beyond social games, such as Disney movies, Disney TV programs and Disney smart phone apps.

“Disney’s characters and stories have cross-border and cross-generational appeal,” said Isao Moriyasu, Representative Director and President of DeNA. “DeNA has enormous reach around the world with its proven cross-device platform for mobile social games. Together, we can delight millions of players with games featuring Disney’s and Marvel’s beloved characters.”

“We are very excited about working closely with DeNA, which is the market leader of mobile games, to provide great new services,” said Paul Candland, President of The Walt Disney Company (Japan). “We are also looking forward to inviting our audiences all over the world to enjoy Japan made original game content through DeNA’s global platform.”

Disney Party is a free-to-play social party-simulation game for mobile phones with optional virtual items for purchase. Players organize parties and decorate their interiors with various “gifts” that will attract Disney characters. When the characters pay visits, players can greet or take photos with them, which can be shared with other Mobage users.

Disney Fantasy Quest is a social card-collection game where players collect cards of popular characters from Mickey & Friends, princesses and other Disney series to compile “magic books” in a quest to make the world happier. The title is also a free-to-play mobile game with optional virtual items for purchase.

The Marvel-themed game is slated to be a free-to-play social card-battle game where players collect cards with characters developed by Marvel, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, and battle against enemies.